A Lesson in Civility

In today’s episode, Stephen reflects on why Living in the Meantime exists in the first place — to cultivate a modest but meaningful space for the simple, perennial values that actually build human flourishing: integrity, compassion, respect, civility, and the common good. He names the very ordinary, very daily places where those values show up — not in big speeches or sweeping national movements — but in the small interactions between strangers on a subway car at rush hour. Through a wonderfully New-York vignette involving a crowded train, a pregnant passenger, a stubborn commuter, and a surprising twist of civility, Stephen reminds us that the evidence of what matters most is hiding in plain sight. We just have to pay attention. This episode invites us back toward the core — toward the small gestures that ripple into culture. Chapters 00:00:00 — Why This Space Exists 00:00:40 — The Perennial Things That Matter 00:01:25 — A Subway Story About Civility 00:03:15 — Paying Attention to Simple Truths 00:03:50 — Coming Soon: Long-form Conversations Get full access to Living in the Meantime at livinginthemeantime.substack.com/subscribe